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Last Updated:
October 31, 2007 14:06
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:40 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2 and 3 have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country. Benin
You are advised to exercise a high degree of caution in the country. Generally speaking, the security situation is stable. However, tensions were reported in 2006 near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, including the tripoint with Nigeria, in the wake of territorial disputes. Canadians should remain vigilant in these areas and avoid demonstrations, large crowds and public areas where unrest may occur. Travellers are advised to obtain information about local developments and follow the instructions of local authorities. OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Petty crimes such as purse snatching and pickpocketing occur, but remain low when compared to other West African countries. Muggings and robberies occasionally occur near the port, near railways, and along the beaches near hotels frequented by international visitors. Armed robbery, especially at night, has increased in Cotonou and is common in the area bordering Nigeria. Do not show signs of affluence and ensure your personal belongings and travel documents are secure, particularly in the Dantokpa market. Tourist facilities are available in Cotonou, the main port and largest city in Benin, but are limited elsewhere. Ocean currents are very strong along the coast. Many drownings occur each year. You should exercise caution and avoid visiting beaches alone. Emergency numbers: Police–117, Fire department–118, Ambulance–21 30 17 69 or 21 30 06 56 Some Nigerians use Benin as a base for commercial fraud schemes. Please refer to the Annex (section 12) of the Travel Report for Nigeria for tips on recognizing a business scam, brief descriptions of the most common ones, and contact numbers for further information. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Beninese authorities and was valid on October 30, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Benin and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Benin. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. The Benin Embassy in Ottawa will issue visas for stays no longer than seven days. Canadians who want to stay for longer periods must extend their visas in Cotonou. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required Travellers are required to carry evidence of yellow fever and cholera vaccination. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS Canada has no diplomatic or consular presence in Benin. However, the Embassy of Canada in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, although limited by distance, is responsible for Canadian interests in Benin. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) - ABIDJAN, Embassy of Canada Address: Immeuble Trade Centre, 23 avenue Nogues, Le Plateau, Abidjan Postal Address: P.O. Box 4104, Abidjan, 01 Tel.: 225 20.30.07.00 Fax: 225 20.30.07.20 E-Mail: abdjn@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.abidjan.gc.ca In an emergency, the Embassy is assisted by an Honorary Consul at (229) 95-95-11-80 (e-mail: jhounton@yahoo.fr) in cooperation with the staff of the NGO OXFAM-Québec, both located in the Cadjehoun neighbourhood of Cotonou, Benin. Benin - COTONOU: OXFAM-Québec Address: Haie Vive, Avenue Amelco, at the end of the paved road Postal Address: P.O. Box 171, 04 (Cadjehoun), Cotonou, Tel.: (229) 21-30-21-45 Fax: (229) 21-30-21-36 E-Mail: oxfam_be@intnet.bj For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail or death sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. If you are traveling with prescription medicine, you should carry proof of your prescription. Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behavior. Visitors should respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities. Sexual relations between homosexuals or with minors under 21 years of age are severely punished by law. Do not take pictures of military zones, airports or government offices. You should ask permission before taking any pictures. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Public transportation in Cotonou, including moped-taxis, is not reliable. Road conditions range from fair to poor. You should be careful of broken-down vehicles and potholes as these often force traffic to switch lanes without warning. There are paved roads in Cotonou and along the coast, and one leading north to Niger. Other roads are made of hard-packed sand and may become impassable during the rainy seasons (see Section 5 above). Local driving habits, potholes, inadequate lighting, motorcycle traffic, and overloaded trucks pose hazards. Avoid overland travel after dark, particularly on the coastal highway, in the regions bordering Togo and Nigeria, and on the road linking Cotonou and Parakou. In case of an accident, you should go directly to the hospital. If local residents react strongly, you should immediately go to the nearest police station. Fuel shortages are frequent in rural areas of northern Benin. Buses (Africa Lines) can be used for travel within Benin. Rail service is slow and unreliable. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required. The currency is the African Financial Community franc (CFA). Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE In the south, the rainy seasons occur from April to mid-July and mid-September to October. In the north, the rainy season extends from June to September. Unpaved roads can become impassable. The Harmattan, a burning, dusty, and sand-filled wind, blows in from the desert from December to March. You should follow regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada monitors outbreaks of meningitis worldwide. Sporadic meningococcal meningitis occurs throughout the world with seasonal variations. The largest and most frequently recurring outbreaks have been in the semi-arid area of sub-Saharan Africa, designated as the "African Meningitis Belt". The belt extends from Guinea to Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and western Eritrea in the east. Epidemics most often occur during the dry season (December to June) in this region. Since the mid-1990s, epidemics in the Meningitis Belt have occurred on an unprecedented scale and have spread beyond the usual boundaries. Additional information and health recommendations concerning meningitis can be obtained through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Medical facilities are adequate in Cotonou, but supplies of medicine are limited throughout the country. Outbreaks of meningitis occur in the north between December and March. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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